The first Glasgow derby of the season arrived with plenty of expectation but not much momentum from either side.
Rangers came into it on the back of three straight Premiership draws and a painful 9–1 aggregate loss to Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off.
Celtic, meanwhile, had won their league matches but were still smarting from their own European humiliation at the hands of Kairat Almaty.
In truth, the game reflected where both teams stand right now—hard-working but lacking inspiration.
What unfolded at Ibrox was a low-key stalemate, with plenty of effort but little magic.
For Russell Martin, it was enough to buy some time, while Brendan Rodgers will have been satisfied to maintain a six-point cushion over Rangers after just four games.
Rangers Player Ratings
Jack Butland – 7
The Rangers keeper had very little to do thanks to his midfield shielding the back line well. Aside from one sloppy pass early on, he did the basics with assurance.
James Tavernier – 6.5
Back in at right-back after being dropped against Brugge, he handled Balikwisha effectively and looked steady in a fixture where he’s often had tougher afternoons.
Nasser Djiga – 6.5
Despite the groans from the crowd when he got on the ball, Djiga managed to stay composed. Smart positioning helped him keep pace with Maeda. Picked up a booking.
John Souttar – 6.5
Thought he had scored in the first half with a header, only for VAR to rule it out for offside. Showed good range of passing and defended solidly.
Jayden Meghoma – 6.5
Strong defensively against Nygren, though his energy dipped after the break. Still, he rarely looked exposed.
Connor Barron – 7
Made his first start of the season and looked lively, moving the ball quickly and pressing hard. His energy ran out after the break and he limped off injured.
Mohamed Diomande – 6
Added bite to midfield and disrupted Celtic’s rhythm. Gave the ball away a few times but worked hard to win it back.
Thelo Aasgaard – 6.5
Tasked with marking McGregor, and he did so effectively. A no-frills but disciplined display.
Mikey Moore – 6
Worked hard off the ball but didn’t really offer a spark going forward. Booked.
Bojan Miovski – 6.5
Handed his debut after joining from Girona. Made intelligent runs, created fouls, and showed promise even without scoring.
Djeidi Gassama – 6.5
The liveliest of Rangers’ forwards, he regularly tested Tierney and drew extra defenders. Just lacked that decisive moment.
Manager Russell Martin – 6.5
Didn’t get the win he wanted, but his players showed enough fight to ease the immediate pressure.
Substitutes: Dessers, Antman, Bajrami, Curtis, Rothwell.
Not used: Kelly, Aarons, Fernandez, Danilo.
Celtic Player Ratings
Kasper Schmeichel – 7
Rarely troubled but assured when called upon. His distribution was tidy and he deserved his clean sheet.
Anthony Ralston – 6.5
Reliable and hardworking, stopped Moore from making an impact and used his experience well.
Cameron Carter-Vickers – 6.5
Confident in possession and defensively strong. Often carried the ball forward but lacked passing options.
Liam Scales – 6.5
Survived a penalty scare early on but defended aerial balls well and looked composed.
Kieran Tierney – 6
Struggled at times against Gassama’s pace and wasn’t the attacking force fans are used to seeing.
Callum McGregor – 6
Kept quiet by Aasgaard for much of the match. Industrious defensively but struggled to control the game from deep.
Arne Engels – 4
A frustrating afternoon for the £11m signing. Barely influenced the first half and was taken off after failing to improve.
Reo Hatate – 5.5
Mixed moments of flair with costly errors. Looked out of rhythm and was eventually substituted.
Benjamin Nygren – 5.5
Showed neat touches but lost the ball too often. Improved slightly after the break but didn’t provide a killer pass.
Daizen Maeda – 6
Worked tirelessly up front without seeing much of the ball. Defended well from set pieces.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha – 5.5
Started brightly on his Old Firm debut but faded out of the game before being replaced.
Manager Brendan Rodgers – 7
Would likely have taken a draw before kick-off. His side offered little going forward, so a point was a fair return.
Substitutes: Forrest, Yamada, Saracchi, McCowan.
Not used: Sinisalo, Yang, Bernardo, Murray, Donovan.
Final Whistle Reflections
The Old Firm derby didn’t produce fireworks, but it kept the narrative alive.
Rangers showed grit under pressure, while Celtic held firm without dazzling.
For now, Rodgers stays in control of the title race, while Martin clings to his job with signs of progress.
Attendance at Ibrox was a typically raucous 50,013, but those fans didn’t witness a classic—it was more perspiration than inspiration.
